Makeshifts

Makeshifts refer to temporary substitutes or expedient devices employed when standard or permanent solutions are unavailable or impractical. They are often created quickly and with readily available materials, lacking the durability or refinement of a purpose-built item. Their primary function is to fulfill a specific need in the short term, offering a functional, albeit often rudimentary, resolution to a problem or deficiency. The effectiveness of a makeshift relies heavily on resourcefulness, improvisation, and an understanding of the underlying purpose it's intended to serve. While crucial for immediate action, makeshifts are inherently limited and are ideally replaced by proper alternatives as soon as feasible.

Makeshifts meaning with examples

• Stranded in the wilderness after their tent ripped, the hikers crafted makeshifts from branches and leaves to construct a temporary shelter against the approaching rain. They used their backpacks as pillows. They used their shoes as door stops to prevent the wind from blowing the door open. They needed to find a solution as soon as possible before the next day.
• The power outage left the hospital in a critical state, requiring emergency makeshifts. The nurses and doctors used flashlights from their cell phones, and manually operated some medical equipment until the generators came back online, which proved challenging in terms of timing. They had to figure out how to get power as soon as possible.
• During the war, citizens relied on various makeshifts due to shortages of essential goods. They created tools out of whatever they could find, like using old cans as planters to grow food, or used bedsheets for clothing and blankets. This meant that they had to be creative. They improvised to get by.
• When their car broke down miles away from help, the travelers built a makeshift repair kit using duct tape, a wrench and other bits from the car. They had to find a way to temporarily fix the car to get back to the highway, using their ingenuity and limited resources. This required improvisation to fix the car.
• The construction crew, delayed by a missing component, used makeshifts such as planks as ramps until the proper materials arrived. They had to complete the job on time. Their goal was to keep up with the demands. The makeshift kept them on track.